The junta will not interfere in attempts to reconcile all colour-coded political conflicts, coup leader Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Friday night.
The army chief stressed the importance of reconciliation to pave the way for the smooth establishment of a legislative body, an interim government and a reform council.
"The army will be only a facilitator, an observer and an information provider," Gen Prayuth said in the second of his weekly televised addresses.
"I will invite all parties to sit down together and that is the only role the army plays," he said, adding that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) would not dictate the direction.
Wearing eyeglasses and looking more relaxed and confident than in previous appearances, Gen Prayuth spoke for 50 minutes and appeared eager to detail many aspects of his plans, from rice sales to education, farmers' debts, tourism and energy.
Reconciliation is the first phase in the NCPO's three-phase plan. The second involves the interim government, reform council and legislative assembly, followed by elections in the third phase, possibly 15 months from now.
Attempts to end the political division are being undertaken through the Reconciliation Centre for Reform, which is branching out at all levels from Bangkok and other cities to villages nationwide.
Prayuth: "I fully understand your grievances and problems, as well as your distrust."
Gen Prayuth denied that he was rushing the process, saying talks in the first stage would ease possible conflicts when the legislative assembly and other bodies are formed.
Without an end to conflict, nothing else can be achieved, he said. If conflicts resurface during the second phase, efforts to bring reform would be jeopardised.
He defended the enforcement of martial law, saying it was necessary as normal laws were not being respected and conditions in the country had deteriorated too far.
"In the past, people were not recognising the general law," he said.
"I don't want the international community to view us as people who use violence to get what we want."
Gen Prayuth said police and soldiers were continuing their campaigns to crack down on war weapons although he admitted it was difficult as arms are smuggled into the country from border areas.
He also discussed economic policy, reiterating his position that worthwhile investment projects would be carefully screened before being carried out.
He expressed hope that authorities could stabilise the price of rice to help farmers. Selling too much rice too quickly from state stockpiles was risky as it could have a negative impact on prices.
The previous civilian government amassed huge stocks under its rice-pledging scheme, and if and when sales do take place, they will be for about 40-50% less than what was paid for the grain.
Gen Prayuth also said he would not deal with a proposal to end the oil fund for now as it needed thorough study.
Levies collected from fuel sales go into the fund, which is supposed to be used to finance energy conservation, research and development of alternative energy. However, past governments have tended to use the fund as a bottomless source of money to subsidise fuel prices.
Touching on education, Gen Prayuth said the traditional values of "being Thai" needed to be reinforced, especially through the school system, where reforms were needed.
The coup leader even found time to touch on tourism, saying that foreigners who visited the country also needed to realise that laws should be obeyed and Thailand wasn't a place where anyone could do what they liked.
He also appealed to opponents of the coup for patience, saying that protesting week after week did not seem very productive.
"I fully understand your grievances and problems, as well as your distrust. Please give me time to work things out. Do not rush me," he said.